Takeup apparatus



E. D. HANSON TAKEUP APPARATUS Jan. 20,1953

4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 30. 1950 INVENTOR E. 0. HANSON A 7' TORNEV|l|ll. lllll iii) Jan. 20, 1953 E. D. HANSON 2,626,111

TAKEUP APPARATUS Filed .Aug. 30, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

IN VE N TOR E 0. HANSON A 7' TORNE V Jan. 20, 1953 E. D. HANSON2,626,111

TAKEUP APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. .3

INVENTOR E. 0 HANSON A TTORNEY Patented Jan. 20, 1953 2,626,111 TAKEUPAPPARATUS Estyle D. Hanson, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western ElectricCompany, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication August 30, 1950, Serial No. 182,227

11 Claims.

This invention relates to takeup apparatus, and more particularly toapparatus for continuously winding strands, such as, for example,insulated. conductors.

In strand processing operations, such as in the extrusion of aninsulated covering over a conductor and the vulcanization of thecovering immediately after the extrusion operation, a strand usually iswound upon some type of holder, such as a reel, to facilitate storage orfurther handling of the strand. In the past, when the reel was .filledwith the strand and a new reel or the like had to be substitutedtherefor, or a switch was effected from one reel to another, it usuallywas necessary to shut down the processing apparatus during such asubstitution or switching. Such interruptions of the process increasedthe cost of production of the strands, and, in the case of extrusion andvulcanization of insulated coverings upon conductors, the portions ofthe coverings remaining in the vulcanizing apparatus during theinterruptions were overcured and had to be scrapped. Some continuouslyoperable takeup apparatus have been proposed in the past, but thisapparatus has not been entirely satis" factory.

An object of the invention is to provide new and improved takeupapparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improvedapparatus for continuously winding thereon strands, such as, forexample, insulated conductors.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved strandtakeup apparatus for substantially automatically switching a strand fromone takeup reel to another without interrupting the Winding process.

A takeup apparatus illustrating certain features of the invention mayinclude a coiling element, means for guiding a strand along apredetermined path adjacent to and past the coiling element, a snaggerrevolved with the coiling ele- .of the strand guided past the coilingelement.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from followingdetailed description of an apparatus forming a Specific embodimentthereof, when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevation of an apparatus forming oneembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig.. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevation of the apparatusshown in Fig. 2 with portions thereof broken away;

' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, generally vertical section taken along line4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially sectional view looking inthe direction of the arrows 5--5 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding with Fig. 5, but with the parts shown inanother operative position.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a conductive core In (Fig. 1)is advanced from one of twosupply reels l2l 2 by a dual capstan l4, andis pulled through an extruder IS, a continuous vulcanizing tube I 8 intandem with the extruder I6, around a guide sheave l9, and through acooling trough 20 by the dual capstan I4. The extruder 16 forms aninsulating covering 24 on the conductive core It] to form an insulatedconductor 26, and the insulated conductor is continuously introducedinto the vulcanizing tube [8, which vulcanizes the covering 24 as theconductor 26 is advanced therethrough.

The conductor 26 is advanced from the capstan M to a continuous takeupunit 28, and is advanced over a distributor sheave 32 of a distributor34 either to a takeup reel mechanism 35 (Fig. 3) operable in onedirection ora takeup reel mechanism 38 which is similar to the mechanism36 but operates in an opposite direction. The distributor sheave 32 ismounted rotatably on an armAO (Fig. 3) carried by a distributor head 42(Fig. 2) supported slidably on a shaft 44 and a rod 46. The shaft 44 andthe rod Mia-re supported by slides 4 8-48 mounted slidably on guide rods50-50 having racks, of which a rack 52 (Fig. 3) is shown, formedthereon.

A reversible electric motor 60 (Fig.2) carried with the slides 4848rotates a distributor screw 62 in either of two directions. When themotor is actuated to rotate the distributor screw in one direction, thedistributor screw moves the distributor head 42 to the left, as viewedin Fig. 2, so that the distributor sheave 32 is moved to a portion ofdistribute the conductor 26 upon a reel 64 of the counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 3. When the distributor sheave 32 reachesits furthermost left hand position, an actuating pin 66 carried by thedistributor head 42 strikes an arm 68 of a limit switch I to reverse thedirection of rotation of the motor 60 and the distributor screw 62,whereby the distributor screw moves the head 42 and the sheave 32 to theright to form another layer of the conductor on the takeup reel 64.

When the sheave 32 reaches its furthermost right hand position, asviewed in Fig. 2, an actuating rod II strikes an arm I2 of a limitswitch 14 to again reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 60 andthe distributor screw 62. The actuating rods 66 and II are mountedslidably in bosses I6 and 18, respectively, formed on a plate 19 of thedistributor head 42. The positions of the rods 66 and 'II may beadjusted by a thumb screw 80 extending through a tapped bore 82 in theplate I9 and tapped bores 86 and 88 formed in arms 90 and 92,respectively, which are rigidly secured to the actuating rods 66 and II.Thus, the length of throw of the distributor may be adjusted.

A hand Wheel 94 is keyed to the shaft 44, which carries two pinions, ofwhich a pinion 96 (Fig. 3) is shown. The pinions 96-36 engage the racks52-52 of the guide rods 5I353. The hand wheel 34 may be rotated torotate the shaft 44 and the pinions 36-96 to move the slides 4346 alongthe rods 53-56 to the right or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, therebymoving the distributor sheave 32 with respect to the takeup reelmechanisms 36 and 33. A pivoted latch I04 may be actuated manually tolock the distributor 34 in any desired position on the guide rods 50-50.Normally, while the covered conductor 26 is wound on the takeup reelmechanism 36, the distributor 34 is in the broken-line position thereofshown in Fig. 3, and the conductor 26 follows a path shown in brokenlines to the reel 64. When the reel 64 is almost filled the latch I04 isreleased and the hand wheel 94 is actuated to move the distributor 34 tothe full-line position thereof. This changes the path of the conductor26 from the distributor sheave 32 to the reel 64 from that shown by theabove-mentioned brokenline to the reel 64, to the path thereof shown infull lines. The portion of this path oi the conductor 26 between pointsA and B forms a chord with respect to flanges I09--I09 of a reel IIO ofthe takeup reel mechanism 38, which reel is rotated when driven in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3.

An electric motor II6 (Fig. 4) of the takeup reel mechanism 38 then isenergized to start the rotation of the reel H0. The motor II6 rotates acentering cone I20 keyed to the reel IIO by a pin II! and an arm I I8 ina clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, and a freely rotatablecentering cone I22 connected to the reel IIO by a pin I2I and a guardI24 is rotated by the reel. The centering cone I22 is rotated by thereel H0 and rotates the guard I24 therewith. The guard I24 carries asnagger I23 (Figs. 5 and 6) pivotally thereon and the snagger has asnagging notch I30 formed therein, and is guided by a pin I23 having astop nut I3I thereon. The snagger I26 is designed to slide through aslot I32 formed in theguard I24. An arm I26 of the snagger I23 carries acam I33, and normally is held by aleaf spring I34 in a retractedposition in which the notched snagging portion of the snagger I28 doesnot extend beyond the near flange of the reel I I0.

5. portion of the conductor 26 extending from the A presser roller I35is carried by a rod I36 slidably keyed in a bushing I31, and may bepushed by the rod I36 against the action of a spring I38 to a positionengaging the cam I33 to move the snagger I28 further upwardly, as viewedin Fig. 5, to a position extending beyond the inner flange of the reel II0 shortly after the snagger passes the point A (Fig. 3). However, asthe snagger passes point A, the roller and cam do not push the snaggerbeyond the near reel flange I09 against the spring I34, but permit thesnagger to remain in its retracted position so that the snagger clearsthe conductor 26 whenever the conductor is near that flange of the reelas the snagger approaches the portion of the conductor 26 at the pointA.

A latching rod I39 (Fig. 5) is urged by a springpressed lever I40 into anotch I4I when the roller I35 is in a snagger-actuating position, andholds the roller I35 in such a position through the rod I36. The leverI40 is pivotally mounted on a stationary pin I42 secured a housing I43,and has a feeler arm I44 extending over the guard I24.

When the distributor sheave 32 advances the conductor 23, which subtendsa portion of the flanges of the reel I I6, to a position in which theconductor is near the right hand flange of the reel, as viewed in Fig.4, and the rod I36 has been actuated to push the snagger against thespring !34 and the rod 536 is latched in this position by the latchingrod I39, the snagger clears the portion of the conductor at point A(Fig. 3) is moved over the conductor between the points A and B, catchesthe portion of the conductor at point B in the notch I36 and pulls theconductor downwardly, as viewed in Fig. The takeup reel 64 continues tobe rotated and to wind the conductor 26 thereon, and the portion of thecorn ductor between the snagger and the reel 54 is moved downwardly. Theinrunning reel 64 and the snagger I 28 move the portion of the conductortherebetween downwardly hard againsta shear blade I to sever theconductor.

The snagger I28 continues to rotate with the reel III) and thedistributor 34 distributes theconductor 26 on the reel IIEl as thesnagger is rotated beyond the point B (Fig. 3) to somewherenear point Cwhere the cam I33 (Fig. 5) moves out of engagement with the roller I35,and the spring I34 moves the notched portion of thesnagger back to aposition in which it does not extend over the flange of the reel I I3.The snagger continues to hold the conductor so that the conductor iswound on the reel H6, and, as the snagger is moved past the feeler armM4, the end snagger strikes the arm I44 and swings it in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 5. This movement of the lever I40 pulls thelatching rod I39 out of the notch I4I, and the rod I36 and the rollerI35 are moved to unlatched, retracted positions. j

After the reel I I0 has been filled the distributor 34 is moved to itsbroken-line position and the above-described operation in connectionwith starting and winding of the conductor 26 on the reel IIO isrepeated to shear the conductor and start the conductor on the reel 64by means of a snagger and its associated elements which form a portionof the takeup reel mechanism 36, which is identical with the takeupmechanism 33 ex- 15, The motor I16 (Fig. 4) is'mounted on a slide e'paaiir from, the motor H6 is dee'nergized and a linkage I16 is moved so asto actuate a valve I18 to supply air under pressure to the right handend of a cylinder I80, as viewed in Fig. 4, and to pivot a latch I82secured rigidly to a rotatable shaft I84 out of a slot I80 formed in theslide I I so that the slide may he slid to the left by a piston I94fastened to the slide to free the reel IIO for removal. After an emptyreel to be substituted for the reel I I0 has been positioned between thecentering cones I20 and I22, the linkage I16 is moved to actuate thevalve I18 to supply air under pressure to the leftend of the cylinderI80 and to permit the latch I82 t move into the slot I 88 whenever theslot I88 is moved thereover. The piston then moves the slide I10 tomount the empty reel on the centering cones I20 and I22, and the latchmoves into the slot I88 to latch the slide in an operative position.

Operation The insulated conductor 26 is advanced over the sheave 32 ofthe distributor mechanism 34, which is in its broken-line position, asviewed in Fig. 3, to the reel 64 of the takeup reel mechanism 36, themotors '60 and 65 are started, the reel 64 is rotated, and thedistributor 34 distributes the conductor 26 in layers extending fromflange to flange of the reel 64. When the reel 64 is almost filled, anoperator of the apparatus releases the latch I04 and moves thedistributor mechanism 34 to the left to its full-line position. Theoperator then starts the motor II 6 (Fig. 2) to rotate the reel I I0 inan inrunning direction with respect to the-direction of rotation of thereel 64, and the distributor 34 continues to distribute the conductorevenly upon the reel 64.

When the reel 64 is filled, the operator actuates the rod I36 (Fig. tomove the roller I35 upwardly, from the position shown in Fig. 6 to theposition shown in Fig. 5, until the latching rod I39 enters the notch I4I. Then, during each revolution of the snagger I28, the notchet portionthereof is moved from its retracted position to its snagging position,as shown in Fig. 5, by the cam I33 after the notched portion has passedpoint A (Fig. 3) and-has not yet come to point B. After the notched=portion of the snagger is rotated past point C, the spring I34 moves itback to a position in which it does not extend beyond the near flangeI09 of the reel I I 0.- When thethe snagger and the reel 64 against theshear blade I50, which severs the conductor. As the spring I34 moves thesnagger I28 to its retracted position, the snagger continues to hold thenewly formed end of the conductor 26 and carries it around the drum ofthe reel IIO. As the cut end portion of the conductor is advanced by thesnagger, the centrifugal force holding this portion of the conductoroutwardly causes this portion to strike the arm I44 of the lever I 40and swing the lever in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5. Thispulls the latching rod I39 out of the notch MI, and the spring I38movesthe'rod I36 to its retracted position. The distributor 34 distributesthe conductor on the reel IIO as it is wound thereon.

The operator then stops the takeup reel mechanism 36, removes the filledreel 64 therefrom,

- and substitutes an empty reel identical with the reel 64 for the reel64. When the reel H0 is filled with the conductor 26, the switchover tothe empty reel of the takeup reel mechanism 36 is eifected by a snaggerand its associated elements of the reel mechanism 36 which are identicalwith but of opposite hand from the snagger I28 and its associatedelements of the takeup mechanism 38, after moving the distributor 34 toits broken-line position, as shown in Fig. 3, so

that a portion of the conductor 26 between the sheave 32 and the takeupreel H0 is in a plane chordally intersecting the flanges of the reel ofthe takeup mechanism 36 to permit the conductor to be snagged.

The above-described takeup apparatus serves to continuously takeup theconductor 26 without interruption in or slowing of operation so that theoperation of the extruder I6 and the vulcanization is not even sloweddown. The transfer from one takeup mechanism to the other is almostcompletely automatic inasmuch as the only manual efiort necessary tomake a transfer from one takeup reel mechanism to the other is to movethe distributor mechanism 34 to the proper position, to start the idletakeup reel mechanism andto actuate the snagger actuating rod "of theidle takeup mechanism. There is no danger to an operator of theapparatus since the snaggers are covered and accidental contacttherewith is blocked.

Certain features of the above-described apparatus are disclosed andclaimed in copending application Serial No. 57,014, filed October 28,1948, by D. C. Robson, for Apparatus for Advancing and severing Strands,now Patent No. 2,604,942, issued July 29, 1952, and copendingapplication Serial No. 40,226, filed July 23, 1948 by E. D. Hanson, G.Henning and S. M. Martin for Takeup Apparatus, which resulted in Patent2,546,636, issued March 27, 1951.

What is claimed is:

l. A takeup apparatus, which comprises 'a circular coiling element,means for rotating the coiling element, means for guiding a strand pastsaid element along a predetermined straight path forming a chord withrespect to the periphery of the circular coiling element, asnagg'errevolved with the coiling element and movable from a position at one endof and not extending over the periphery of the coiling element to aposition extending over said periphery, means for holding the snagger ina position not extending over the periphery of the coiling element,means selectively movable to a position for pushing the snagger over theperiphery of the coiling' element at a predetermined point in therevolution of the snagger, and means for latching the snagger-pushinmeans in said position, whereby the snagger catches the chordal portionof the strand guided past the coiling element.

2. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a secondcoiling element, means for rotating the coiling elements, means forguidin a strand along a predetermined path near to and past thefirst-mentioned coiling element to the second-mentioned coiling element,a snagger revolved and associated with the first-mentioned coilingelement and movable from a position at coiling lement to a positionextending over that coiling element, means for urging the snagger to aposition not extending over its associated coilingelement, means movableto a predetermined position for pushing the snagger against thesnagger-urging means to the position in which it extends over itsassociated coiling element at a predetermined point in the revolution ofthe snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion of the strandguided past that coiling element, means for latching the snagger-pushingmeans in said position thereof, and a cutter positioned in the path inwhich the portion of the strand between the snagger and thesecondmentioned coiling element is moved by the snagger for severing thestrand.

3. A takeup apparatus, which 7 comprises a coiling element, a secondcoiling element, means for rotating the coilin element, means forguiding a strand along a predetermined path near to and past thefirst-mentioned coiling element to the second-mentioned coiling element,a snagger revolved and associated with the firstmentioned coilingelement and movable from a position at one end of and not extending overthat coiling element to a position extending over that coiling element,means for holding the snagger in a position not extending over itsassociated coiling element, means selectively movable from a retractedposition to an operative position for pushing the snagger over itsassociated coiling element at a predetermined point in the revolution ofthe snagger, means for holding the snagger-pushing means in saidoperative position, whereby the snagger catches the portion of thestrand guided past its associated coiling element, a cutter againstwhich the strand is moved by the snagger for severing the strand at apoint; spaced from the snagger, and means operable by the cut endportion of the conductor for moving the snagger-pushing means to itsretracted position.

4. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a coiling element, a secondcoiling element, means for rotating the coiling elements, means forguiding a strand along a predetermined path near to and past thefirst-mentioned coiling element to the second-mentioned coiling element,a snagger associated with and revolved with the firstmentioned coilingelement and movable from a positon at one end of and not extending overthat coiling element to a position extendin over that coiling element,means for holding the snagger in a positon not extending over itsassociated coiling element, means selectively movable from a retractedposition to an operative position for pushing the snagger over itsassociated coiling element at a predetermined point in the revolution ofthe snagger, means for latch-'- ing the snagger-pushing means in saidoperative position, whereby the snagger catches the portion of thestrand guided past its associated coiling element, a cutter spaced fromthe path of the snagger over which the portion of the strand between thesnagger and the secondmentioned coilin element is moved by the snaggerfor severing the strand, and feeler means operable by a portion of thestrand carried by the snagger for releasing the latching means.

5. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a pair of transversely alignedreels, means for rotating the reels, means for guiding a strand past oneof the reels to the other reel, a snagger provided with astrand-catching-and-gripping portion revolved with the reel past which astrand is guided, a cutter positioned between the sna ger and the otherreel, cam means carried by the snagger, manually operable cam meanscoopera-ble with the first-mentioned cam means and movable tb asnagger-projecting position for projecting the strandcatching-and-gripping portion beyond the flange of the reel past whichthe strand is guided to catch and grip the strand, whereby the portionof the strand between the snagger and the reel to which the strand isguided is moved into engagement with the cutter and severed, means forlatching the manually operable cam means in snagger-projecting position,and feeler means operable by a strand carried by the snagger for.releasing the latching means.

6. A strand takeup apparatus, which comprises a reel, means for rotatingthe reel, a disc connected to one end of the reel and rotated with thereel, an L-shaped snagger. provided with a strand catching notch formingin one arm thereof and having one end of the other arm thereof pivotallyconnected to the disc and movable between a snagging position in whichthe firstmentioned arm projects over the portion of the reel mostadjacent thereto and a retracted position in which the first-mentionedarm does not extend over that portion of the reel, means normallyurgingthe snagger to its retracted position, cam means carried by thesnagger, a manually operable pusher having cam means positioned adjacentto a predetermined portion of the path of the first-mentioned cam meansand cooperable with the first-mentioned cam means for pressing thesnagger to its snagging position, means for guiding a strand adjacent tothe snagger, means for latching the pusher in a position holding thesnagger in its snagging position, means for severing a strand snagged bythe snagger, and a feeler operable by a portion of the strand snagged bythe snagger for actuating the pusher-latching means to release thepusher.

'7. A strand takeup apparatus, which eomprises a reel, means forrotating the reel, a disc connectedto one end of the reel and rotatedwith the reel, an L-shaped snagger provided with a strand catching notchforming in one arm thereof and having one end of the other arm thereofpivotally connected to' the disc and movable between a snagging positionin which the first-mentioned arm projects over the portion of the reelmost adjacent thereto and a retracted position in which thefirst-mentioned arm does not extend over that portion of the reel,'meansnormally urging the snagging element to its retracted position, cammeans carried by the snagging element, a manually operable pusher ro'dhaving a notch therein, cam means carried by the pusher rod, a slidemounting the pusher rod in a position in which the cam means carried bythe pusher rod is adjacent to a predetermined portion of the path of thefirst-mentioned 'cam means, means urging the pusher rod to a retractedposition, means for guiding a strand adjacent to the snagger, a latchrod urged against the pusher rod for engaging the notch therein to latchthe pusher rod in a position holding the snagger in its snaggingposition, means for severing a strand snagged by the snagger, and meansoperable by the strand snagged by the snagger for pulling the latch rodout of the notch to release the pusher and allow it to be urged to itsretracted position. 8. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a coilingelement, a second, coiling element, means for rotating the coilingelements, means for guiding a strand along a predetermined path near toand past the first-mentioned coiling element to the second-mentionedcoiling element, a snagger revolved and associated with thefirst-mentioned coiling element and movable from a position at the endof and not extending over its associated coiling element to a positionextending over that coiling element, means normally operable for urgingthe snagger to a position not extending over its associated coilingelement, means selectively operable for pushing the snagger against theaction of the snagger-urging means to the position in which it extendsover its associated coiling element at a predetermined point in therevolution of the snagger, whereby the snagger catches the portion ofthe strand guided past that coiling element, and means for latching thesnagger-pushing means in operative position.

9. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a winding element, means forrotating the winding element, a snagger carried by one end of thewinding element and movable from a snagging position in which thesnagger projects over the winding element to a retracted position inwhich the snagger does not project over the winding element, means forurging the snagger toward the retracted position thereof in which thesnagger does not project over the winding element, means selectivelyoperable for moving the snagger for a predetermined portion of therevolution of the snagger to the snagging position thereof in which itprojects over the winding element so that the snagger clears one portionof a strand guided chordally with respect to the path of the snagger andcatches a second portion of the strand, means for latching thesnagger-moving means in operative position, and means respon- Sive to aportion of the strand snagged by the snagger for releasing the latchingmeans.

10. A takeup apparatus, which comprises a rotatable reeling element, asecond rotatable reeling element, means mounting the reeling elements intransversely aligned positions for rotating the reeling elements ininrunning directions, an arm carried with and mounted pivotally at theend of the first-mentioned reeling element, a snagger carried by the armand extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of thefirst-mentioned reeling element and radially outside that reelingelement so that the snagger is projected over that reeling element whenthe arm is pivoted toward that reeling element, said snagger beingrevolved in a predetermined circular path beyond the radial limits ofits associated reeling element, a distributor adjustable transversely tothe axes of rotation of the reeling elements for distributing a strandupon the second-mentioned reeling element and for guiding the strand tothe second-mentioned reeling element in a plane chordally intersectingthe circular path of the snagger, means for normally urging the snaggerto a retracted position beyond the near end of its associated reelingelement so that the snagger normally clears the strand, meansselectively operable for projecting the snagger to a snagging positionextending over the near end of its associated reeling element and overthe portion of the strand chordally intersecting the circular path ofthe snagger so that the snagger catches and grips the strand, means forlatching the snagger projecting means in its projecting position, andfeeler means responsive to a strand snagged by the snagger for releasingthe latching means to allow the snagger projecting means to beretracted.

11. An apparatus for successively coiling an advancing strand upon aplurality of reels without interrupting the advancement of the strand,which comprises means for mounting a pair of reels adjacently with theiraxes parallel and in the same horizontal plane, means for selectivelyrotating the reels in opposite inrunning directions, means foralternately distributing an advancing strand upon the pair of reels asthe strand is coiled upon one rotating reel until that reel is filledand then is shifted and coiled upon the adjacent reel and foralternately guiding the advancing strand in a straight path past onereel to the adjacent reel, a pair of snaggers one for each reelrotatable in circular paths concentric with and radially beyond thereels, each snagger being reciprocable substantially parallel to theaxis of a reel between an inoperative retracted position and anoperative projected position in which the snagger may operate to catchthe strand as it is being advanced past one reel to the adjacent reel,means for normally urging the snaggers to their retracted positions, apair of camming means one for each snagger for moving each snagger intoits projected position while the snagger rotates through such apredetermined arc of its circular path that a strand may be caught,means for latching each camming means in a position in which a snaggeris projected, a fixed blade positioned between the pair of reels forsevering a strand caught by a rotating snagger, and means responsive toan end of a severed strand caught by a snagger for releasing thelatching means to allow the snagger projecting means to be retracted.

ESTYLE D. HANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

